FAM warns new Fifa refs
FAM referees sub-committee chairperson James Mwenda has warned newly appointed Fifa referees for Malawi quota to be professional when doing duties within and outside the country.
Mwenda gave the advice ahead of the handing out of the Fifa badges to 15 males and females—who, based on performance and other determinants last season—have made the ann
ual quota. Fifa selects the referees on the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) committee’s recommendation.
“We have noted that once they make it as Fifa referees, they become complacent. They think they cannot be removed from the list. But that is wrong. Their performance is based on both local and international games,” said Mwenda on Monday.
“They have to realise that they are torch bearers, so they have to behave on and off the field of play as they represent Malawi football wherever they go.”
Southern Region referees will receive the badges at Chiwembe Technical Centre today whereas the North’s turn is this Saturday at Mzuzu Technical Centre following a similar function held last Wednesday at Lilongwe Community Centre.
Rafael Antony, Jones Makuwira and Linda Chikuni are among five referees Fifa replaced on Malawi’s quota and cannot handle domestic high-profile and international matches.
Antony’s exclusion has left the Southern Region with only Dennis Nguluwe as a Fifa rated international referee. Antony was replaced by Mavuto Msimuko from the Northern Region. Makuwira lost his place on the list to Patrick Ngoleka from the Central Region. Nguluwe survived alongside the Centre’s Duncan Lengani.
Men’s assistant list has also seen Kelvin Ngolanga, who is reportedly pre-occupied, replaced by Jonizio Luwizi (North) with new comer Edward Kambatuwa of Salima stepping in for Victor Nkhata who failed fitness test. The list of assistants has survivors Clement Kanduku, Innocent Kaundula and Feston Kusekuse.
Women referees’ quota also has Linda Chikuni dropped for Mercy Mziya whereas Grace Msika, who handles many TNM Super League games, has retained her status. The retained and dropped referees were reluctant to comment in the absence of official communication from FAM.
The women assistant referees’ band has also seen the exclusion of Chikondi Mpindo who has been replaced by Charity Ndovi who joins familiar faces of Happiness Mbandambanda and Bernadettar Kwimbira.
Most of the dropped referees failed Fifa Fitness test, others did not show up whereas Makuwira has been deleted despite passing the test. The dropped referees cannot officiate any international game.
